News and Events

This week, Jess (HR Assistant) & Vanessa (Project Co-ordinator, Helping You Care Scheme) were interviewed by Radio Dacorum in the West to promote us in the area, particularly for recruitment. It’s an entertaining interview, they did a great job at presenting Crossroads, especially considering it was live.

We also made a recruitment advert to be aired on the radio station. Yusuf and Sandy (two of our West Support Workers) were the voices for it and sound brilliant. This will be aired at regular intervals throughout the year.

To listen to the interview go to https://www.mixcloud.com/radiodacorum/crossroads-care-interview-with-matt-hatton-on-radio-dacorum/

Carers Week 2017 is a national awareness week that celebrates and recognises the vital contribution made by people who currently provide unpaid care for a disabled, ill or older family member or friend. Across Hertfordshire 109,000 people look after someone who cannot manage without help saving the local economy £2.1 billion per year.

Caring can be a rewarding experience but without the right support many carers find themselves facing financial hardship, ill-health, emotional stress, relationship breakdown and isolation.

Heléna Herklots CBE, on behalf of Carers Week, said:
“Carers Week is a fantastic way to celebrate the vital contribution carers make to our families, communities and wider society. We know that caring for a loved one can be a rewarding experience, but without the right support at the right time, caring can also have a huge impact on a carer’s emotional and physical health, work and finances.
Carers have told us that it makes a huge difference to their lives when they are supported by their local services and communities; building Carer Friendly communities, whether that’s offering a flexible GP appointment, having flexible working policies or raising awareness in schools of caring, can make a positive difference.”

The Crossroads team will be holding and attending events throughout Carers Week. Anyone looking to find out about help available can drop in to see our team at the following public events:

Stevenage Carers’ Café members, fellow Carers and supporters will be undertaking a relay walk in honour of the late Cllr Sherma Batson who fought long and hard to support family and friend Carers.

The sponsored relay walk will take place on Saturday 17th June as part of this year’s Carers Week, an annual campaign to recognise the vital role carers play. Crossroads Care pledges to continue it’s work with partners to build carer friendly communities.

Everyone is welcome to join in this event and show their support whilst fundraising for the development of the Crossroads Respite Centre in Roebuck, Stevenage where Sherma was a Borough Councillor.

Sign up for 2 laps of the lakes in 1 hour

Participants are requested to register in advance by contacting Norman Phillips:

norman.phillips2511@gmail.com or call 07884 336012

Please state your preferred time slot so we can make it an enjoyable day for everyone

Volunteers from GSK have been getting their hands dirty transforming the garden of the Crossroads Care Respite Centre in Roebuck, Stevenage. GSK’s Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability team used their ‘Orange Day’ to create a cheerful garden for the Centre’s clients to enjoy.

Crossroads Care supports 45 local residents with a long term condition at its Stevenage Respite Centre whilst their family members have a break from their caring role.

Tracy Potts, Respite Centre Supervisor, said: “We really appreciate the support from GSK to help us create an inviting outdoor space for clients and also for donating a bench so that they can enjoy some fresh air. The volunteers were very well organised, they arrived really keen to get on with it and did an absolutely wonderful job. The clients that attend the Centre have already commented on how lovely the garden looks and how fresh and bright it is. There is also an opportunity for our green fingered clients to help with the upkeep of the area, which can be very therapeutic”.

The garden makeover was made possible with plant advice and transport from Seasons Grounds Care and a grant from Stevenage Borough Council’s Local Community budget and is part of a wider modernisation programme for the Respite Centre to ensure that it continues to provide the best support for clients, over 80% of whom have dementia.